Perforator



Nm 22, 193s.

w. FAAs PERFORATOR Filed April'e, 1937 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 22, 1938 uNrrEo srgrEs annie PERFORATOR Walter Faas, South Orange, N. J., assignor toThe Bates Manufacturing Company, West Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 28, 1937, Serial No. 139,475

9 Claims.

. My Yinvention relates to perforators and more particularly to hand operated perforators designed for perforating or punching holes insheets to facilitate the binding thereof in `les or binders .by suitable pronged securing means.

One `of the principal `objects of my invention is to provide an improved hand-lever operable perforating device characterized by great ease of action and requiring the expenditure of comparatively little energy when operated to perforate or punch a large number of superimposed sheets.

Another object of my invention is to provide a perforating device of this character which is strong, durable and of comparatively small weight; and wherein the majority of the parts may advantageously be, and preferably are, formed of sheet metal.

A'further object of my invention is to provide a perforating device Vwhich is of simple construction, neat in appearance and effective in operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparent upon considerationof the following detailed description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of a preferred form of perforating device in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 1a is a perspective View of one of the punch actuating cams of the perforating device shown in Fig. l;

lii'g.` 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view, partly broken away, of the deviceshown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line `ll---A'I of Fig'. 3, with parts shown in elevation and with Vthe operating lever depressed.

Referring to the drawing, I designates a rectangular base which is preferably formed of a single piece of suitable sheet metal such as steel, and has vertical side and end flanges 2 and 3 to stiften the same `and provide a raised platform or support. A flanged sheet metal tray or box 4 for receiving the small piecesof material cut from sheets in the operation of the perforating device, is normallly mounted Within the base I in the position shown where it is removably held by frictional engagement of the side flanges 5 thereof with the inner surfaces of the side flanges 2 of the base. shorter than the base I andits rear end flange S` is preferably inclined inwardlyas shown, so as The tray is somewhat.

to facilitate removal ofthe tray from the base by the hand of a user of the device when it is desired to empty the tray. The base I and tray 4 are of substantially the same depth, and the bottom of the tray when the latter is in the normal position shown, is Vpractically flush with the lower edges of the flanges 2 and 3 of the base. Pads I of .rubber or yother suitable soft materialare applied tothe bottom of tray 4 and constitute supports or rests `adapted to engage m the surface of a desk or table on which the de- I vice may be used-so as to prevent suchsurface from being scratched or marred.

Adjacent .its rear edge the base I is provided with a pair of similar spaced standards 8 pref- 15 erably formed of fairly heavy sheet metal. These standards are each U-shaped in vertical cross-section, comprisingi a base IIJ and spaced parallel sides II. A rectangular spacing bar I2 is disposed between the rear portions of the standard .bases I 0 and the platform o-fbase I. The standards B and bar I2 are suitably secured, as by bolts I3, to Vthe base I. With the construction described spaces are provided between the forward portions of the standards 2 8 and the platform of base I for the reception of sheets to be punched. I

Front plates I4, preferably formed of sheet metaLare disposed against the lower portions of the vertical fo-rward edges of the sides II of Astandards 8; said plates having at their upper ends, right angular portions I5 of reduced width which extend rearwardly-between the sides of the respective standards. The said portions I5 are provided at their side edges with laterally extending rectangular lugs'IB which are respectively engaged with and project through similarly shaped openings in the sides of standards When the latter are bent to form, the projecting ends of these lugs being peaned over or up- 40 set. The plates I4 therefore are not only held rigidly in proper position but serve themselves to' maintain thesides II of the respective standards in proper spaced relation.

The' base IB of'e'ach standard 8 and the an- 45 gular upper end portion I5 of the corresponding front plate I4 are respectively provided with vertically aligned circular guide openings I'l and I8 in whioh'is disposed for reciprocal sliding movement, a cylindrical punch I9. Each of the punches I9 has a pin 20 extending therethrough and projecting laterally therefrom and a coiled compressed spring 2l surrounding that portion thereof between `said pin and the base I0 of the corresponding standard 8. The springs 2l bias 55 the punches I9 to the raised positions shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 wherein the pins 20 respectively engage the upper end portions I5 of plates I4 and the lower cutting ends of the punches are respectively disposed within the openings I'I in the bases of standards 8.

The actuating lever, designated by reference character 22, is preferably formed of fairly heavy channeled sheet metal and its inner end portion comprises divergent arms or branches 23. The ends of arms 23 are respectively received between the upper end portions of sides II of the standards 8 and are journaled on a pair of horizontally aligned pins 24 which extend between and are secured in the sides of said standards. Lever 22 is thus mounted on standards 8 for pivotal movement about a xed axis located somewhat above and rearwardly of the punches I9.

To impart downward vertical operative movement to the punches I9 upon depression of lever 22, I provide novel and improved transmitting means comprising a pair of cam elements 25 which are respectively loosely mounted on the pins 24 for pivotal movement. Preferably the said cam elements are formed of stiff heavy sheet metal, and each comprises a main curved or segmental portion 26 of uniform width and an end portion 21 of reduced width terminating in a hollow cylindrical section 28 which is disposed between the sides of the channeled end portion of one of the arms 23 of lever 22 and through which the corresponding pin 24 extends with a loose lit. The reduced portion 21 of each element 25 projects outwardly just beyond the sides of the end portion of the respective lever arm 23, where it joins the segmental portion 26 of said element, the width of the latter portion being substantially equal to the over-all width of the end portion of said arm 23 and to the spacing of the sides I I of the standard between which such end portion is disposed. The opposite sides of the end portion of each lever arm 23 have convex edge portions 29 which normally engage'and which conform to the adjacent inner concave surface of the main segmental portion 26 of the corresponding element 25. At the outer ends of the convex edge portions 29, the sides of each lever arm are provided with shoulders 30 which engage or are closely adjacent the outer end of the corresponding cam element 25 when the latter occupies its normal position relative to the lever. segmental portions 26 of the cam elements are provided on their convex faces with central longitudinally extending grooves 3l which are curved in cross-section and are respectively engaged by a pair of balls 32 freely supported for rotary movement on conforming seats 32' in the upper ends of the punches I9.

It will be seen that the springs 2I normally act through punches I9, balls 32 and cam elements 25, to bias the lever 22 to the normal raised position thereof, as shown in Fig. 1. The cam elements 25 are biased not only by their own weight but by two flexed leaf springs 33, to engagement with the respective balls 32; the said leaf springs being bent at one end and frictionally engaged respectively with the ends of lever arms 23 and respectively bearing at the other end against the outer free ends ofthe cam elements. The major portions of springs 33 are hidden from view, being disposed within the channels of lever arms 23.

The construction just described ensures the retention of the balls 32 at all times on their seats 32 in the upper ends of punches I9. This is im- The main portant, for one or both of the punches upon being forced through a plurality of superimposed sheets in operating the perforator, will sometimes become jammed and stick at or adjacent the lowermost position thereof despite the upwa'rd biasing action thereon of the corresponding spring or springs 2I. Under such circumstances, if the cam elements 25 were not movable relatively to lever 22 and were not biased to engagement with the balls 32, one or both of the latter would be likely to become dislodged from the respective seat or seats 32 upon movement of lever 22 towards its raised or normal position. The cam elements 25 are of such length that they are adapted to remain in engagement with the balls 32 when the punches become stuck as described and the lever is then moved to its fully raised position, shown in Fig. l. The weight of elements 25 is suicient to maintain them biased to engagement with balls 32 at all times when the perforator is in its normal or horizontal position, as shown. But if one or both of the punches become stuck in depressed position, the user in attempting to loosen the same is likely to move the perforatcr to a tilted or even an inverted position, and accordingly I preferably provide the springs 33 so as to insure the biasing of elements 25 to engagement with balls 32 regardless of the position which the perforator as a whole may occupy or to which it may be moved.

Suitable means is preferably provided for limiting upward movement of lever 22, this means as shown comprising a stop lug 34 which is struck in from one side of a standard 8 and with which the rear edge or heel 35 of one side wall of the corresponding channeled lever arm 23 is adapted to coact.

A gauge bar 36 having an upstanding end portion 3l is mounted on the base I for adjustment transversely thereof, said bar constituting means for locating sheets to be punched so that the perforations made therein will be relatively positioned with respect to one edge of the sheets as may be desired. The bar 36 extends through aligned openings 38 provided in the opposite side flanges 2 of base I just beneath the top of the latter over a pair of opposed adjacent angular portions 39 struck down from said top intermediate the anges 2. A bent leaf spring 40 supported on the portions 39 between the horizontal sections of the latter and the bar 36 serves to yieldingly hold the latter in adjusted position.

The operation of my improved perforating device is believed to be obvious, but may be briefly described as follows:

With the gauge bar 36 adjusted to the desired position and with the punches I9, lever 22 and associated parts in their normal positions, as shown in Fig. l, sheets to be perforated are disposed on top of base I with one edge against the front face of bar I2 and with an adjacent and relatively right angular edge against the upstanding end portion 31 of gauge bar 36. 'I'he lever 22 is then depressed to the position shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the punches are forced downwardly through the sheets and the springs 2| are compressed. The lever is then released, the springs v2I return the punches, actuating lever and associated parts to their normal positions, and the perforated sheets are removed from the device.

It will be noted that in my improved device, there is no positive connection between the .punches I9 and the actuating lever and that the latter is movable about an axis which is fixed with respect to the supporting standards 8.

elements 25, such sliding movements compensating for the gradually increasing radial distance from the fixed pivotal axis ofthe lever at which downward force is applied to the `punches as the actuation of the lever progresses. Verylittle resistance v,is therefore encountered in imparting reciprocal movement to the ,punches by pivotal movement "of the lever despite the fact that the axis of the latter is Vfixed, and the action of the device is extraordinarily smooth and easy. Also with my improved construction and arrangement, but a comparatively small pressure on the actuating lever is necessary in order to eiect the applicationof a y great downward force to the perforatingpunches. Accordingly a device in accordance with my invention is capable of easily perforating thick stacks of sheets.

In addition to its novel mechanical features, my improved perforating device presents a neat and attractive appearance. In this connection, it is to be noted that the plates I4, besides serving as guides and limit stops for the punches i9, also partly cover the spaces between the sides of standards and conceal the springs 2| and the major portions of the punches when the device is viewed from the front.

It is to be understood that the device shown and specically described herein is subject to various modifications without departure from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

` 1. In a device of the character described, a support, a punch element mounted on said support for reciprocal movement and normally biased to inoperative position, a movably mounted lever, and means for actuating said punch towards its operative position upon movement of said lever in a given direction, said means comprising a cam element operable by said lever and mounted for movement independently thereof and an element rotatably seated on one end of the punch element and to engagement with which said cam element is constantly biased regardless of the position of said lever relative to said punch element.

2. In a device of the character described, a support normally occupying a substantially horizontal position, a punch element mounted on said support for vertical movement and biased to a raised inoperative position, a ball resting on a spherical seat provided in the upper end of the punch element, and means operable to depress the punch element comprising an actuating lever mounted for movement about an axis fixed with respect to said support and a cam element mounted for movement independently of said lever and interposed between the latter and said ball, said cam element whenever said support is in its normal position, being constantly biased to engagement with said ball regardless of the position of said lever relative to said punch element.

3. In a device of the character described, a support, a punch element mounted thereon for vertical movement, and biased to a raised inoperative position, a ball resting on a spherical seat provided in the upper end of the punch element, and means operable to depress the punch element comprising a lever mounted aboveA the punch element for pivotal movement about an axis xed with respect to said support and a member disposed betweensaid lever and ball and mounted for movement independently of the lever, said member having an eccentric cam portion provided in the surface thereof adjacent the upper end of the punch element with a longitudinally extending groove adapted for engagement with said ball, said member being constantly biased to maintain such engagement of said groove regardless of the position of said lever relative to said punch element.

` Il. j'Irija device of the character described, a support, a punch mounted on said support for vertical movement and biased to a raised inoperative position, and means operable to depress said punch comprising a lever mounted for movement about an axis xed with respect to said support and a member actuatable by said lever and mounted for pivotal movement independently thereof, said member having an eccentric cam portion constantly biased to operative association with the upper end of said punch regardless of the position of said lever relative tothe punch.

5. Ina perforator, a support, a punch mounted on said support for vertical movement and biased to a raised inoperative position, and means operable to depress said punch comprising a lever mounted for movement about an axis fixed with respect to said support and a member actuatable by said lever and mounted for movement independently thereof, said member having an eccentric cam portion which when the perforator is in its normal position of use, is constantly biased to operative association with the upper end of said punch regardless of the position of said lever relative to the punch.

6. In a device of the character described, a support, a punch mounted on said support for vertical movement and biased to a raised inoperative position, an actuating lever mounted on said support for movement about a fixed axis, and a swingable member having a fixed pivotal axis about which it is adapted to move independently of said lever, said member comprising an eccentric cam portion interposed between. said punch and lever, said cam portion being adapted to impart downward movement to said punch upon movement of said lever in one direction, said lever and member being free from positive connection with each other and with the punch, said member when the device is in its normal position of use, being biased so that the cam portion thereof is constantly maintained in operative association with and adjacent the upper end of said punch regardless of the position of said lever relative to the punch.

7, In a device of the character described, a support, a punch mounted on said support for vertical movement and biased upwardly, said support having means for limiting upward movement of the punch, an actuating lever mounted on said support for movement about a xed axis, and a member also mounted on said support for movement about a fixed axis and about which it is movable independently of said lever, said member having a cam portion interposed between said lever and punch and adapted to impart downward movement to the latter upon movement of the lever in one direction, said lever and member being free from positive connection with each other and with the punch, said member being biased so that the cam portion thereof is constantly maintained in operative association with and adjacent the upper end of the punch regardless of the position of said lever relative to the punch.

8. In a device of the character described, a base, a pair of spaced standards on said base, punches respectively mounted on said standards for Vertical movement and biased upwardly, an actuating lever having branches respectively connected to said standardsrfor swinging movement about a xed axis, and members respectively interposed between the lever branches and the punches, said members beingrespectivelymounted on said standards for movement about such xed axis and adapted for such movement independently of said lever, said lever and members being free from positive connection with each other and with the punches, said members when the device is in its normal position of use, being constantly biased to operative association with the upper ends of the punches respectively regardless of the position of said lever relative to the punches.

9. In a device of the character described, a standard adapted to support and guide a punch and comprising a bottom with a guide opening therein and spaced sides projecting upwardly from said bottom, a punch disposed between said sides and engaging said guide opening, a member comprising a portion securing said sides together in xed spaced relation at a point above the bottom of the standard and having a guide opening upwardly through which said punch projects, and a spring biasing said punch upwardly and surrounding a portion thereof which is between said bottom and the point Where said sides are secured in spaced relation, said member having a portion which closes that portion of Ithe space between said sides corresponding to the location of said spring.

WALTER FAAS. 

